THE journey to the great beyond for former military governor of the Old Western State, General Adeyinka Adebayo (retd), begins on Wednesday with a service of songs in Lagos.
Adebayo who breathed his last on March 8, 2017, will then be honoured on Thursday by the six governors in the South West, at a lying in state and rendition of tributes at House of Chiefs, Secretariat, Ibadan.
Coordinating chairman for the inter-state planning committee, Alhaji Olalekan Alli, made these disclosures on Monday, said the six South West state governors as well as the General Officer Commanding (GOC), 2 Division of Nigerian Army, Ibadan, are expected to accord the late Adebayo the honour on Thursday.
Apart from the six governors, the Yoruba Council of Elders, the Christ School Old Students’ Association, Ado-Ekiti, the Nigerian Army, the Nigerian Navy, the Nigerian Air Force, University of Ibadan are among stakeholders expected to render their tributes.
Giving details of the events, Alli, said at least 100 guests from each South West state are expected to give their last honour to late General Adebayo.
“The intention is to celebrate the departed elder statesman, who was in charge of the Western State, with exception of Lagos, particularly when he was appointed the military governor. So, it is only therefore befitting of the six states to come together to celebrate the elder statesman.”
“The corpse will be received by the General Officer Commanding (GOC), 2 Division of Nigerian Army at the Ibadan Toll Gate of Lagos-Ibadan Expressway on Thursday, from where the corpse would be moved to the Government House Arcade, Agodi, Ibadan, where the corpse will be received by the six state governors in person.”
“We have every indication that the governors will be there in person, not by proxy. The corpse will move from there to the venue of lying-in-state at the House of Chiefs at 2pm.”
“Each state will not only be represented by the governors, and governments, we will also have 100 guests to represent each state to actually pay tribute in respect of the hero of Nigeria , hero of the South West, and indeed, our hero.”
“He was a collective predecessor of the six state governors. So, we have found it very befitting to celebrate him and to ensure that we have a successful event on Thursday,” Alli said.
“This is our culture, celebrating our elders alive and indeed in death. So, doing this would not be an exception. This is why it is desirable of us to come together on Thursday and celebrate our hero,” he said.
“After the lying-in-state, the corpse will be taken to Ekiti State, where a commendation service and another lying-in-state will hold at Olukayode Stadium, Ado-Ekiti. The remains of Adebayo will be buried at his country home, Iyin Ekiti on Saturday,” Alli added.
Other members of the interstate committee include a Director in the Cabinet Office, Lagos State, Mrs Morenikeji Sobajo; Secretary to Ondo State government, Ifedayo Abegunde; two members of Adebayo’s family, Femi Adebayo, and Ayo Ogundele; and Special Adviser on Communication and Strategy to Oyo State governor, Mr Yomi Layinka.
Adebayo was a Nigerian Army Major General, who served as governor of the now defunct Western State of Nigeria, from 1966 to 1971.
He was the governor during the infamous farmers’ “Agbekoya” revolt over taxation, which was eventually resolved peacefully and harmoniously.
Adebayo, who retired from the Nigeria Army as a major general in 1975, was also a former president of Yoruba Council of Elders (YCE).
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